Scab and other diseases caused a large proportion of the fruit set to drop, and the remainder was unsalable in unsprayed orchards.  Considerable blight is reported in a number of orchards, especially where cultivated.  Trees growing in sod were noticeably free from it.  Practically nothing is being done to prevent its spreading.  While cutting out the affected wood may in some cases check it, I am satisfied a better remedy will have to be found before it is wiped out.  In my own orchard just a few trees located on low land and under cultivation were affected, and not a single case in sod.

There is from all reports an abundance of moisture in the ground, and trees are in good condition to stand a hard winter, except that in some cases the buds started during the warm days of November.

The crop of strawberries was generally a very light one on account of blossoms being injured by late frosts and winter killing, but a few correspondents report a full crop.

Other small fruits, including currants, raspberries and blackberries, were a practical failure and light crop.

The crop of grapes was very light and in only a few favored localities ripened before killing frosts.  Plums, except in a few instances, were a failure, the exceptions being in case of the Hansen hybrids.

[Illustration:  Residence of S.H.  Drum, Owatonna, in First Congressional District—­a veteran member of the society]

While more varieties of apples are successfully grown in this vicinity than elsewhere in the state, and some correspondents recommend a long list, my experience and advice is to set only a few varieties of known commercial value, and while far too many early apples are being grown, this condition is better than planting winter apples of unknown hardiness and quality.  The Northwestern Greening is the most profitable winter apple here, but I understand it is not hardy in some localities in the state.

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ALASKAN BERRY HYBRIDS.—­At the Sitka Experiment Station in Alaska a strain of hardy strawberries is in the making, the result of crosses between the native of the Alaskan coast region and cultivated varieties.  Several thousand seedlings have been grown, all very vigorous and most of them productive and of high quality.  The native variety of the interior of Alaska is now to be used in similar crosses.

The Cuthbert raspberry has been crossed with its relatives, the native Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis Pursh.) and the Thimbleberry (R. parviflorus Nutt.).  The only interesting fact so far developed is that the hybrids of the two species first named are almost entirely sterile.

Annual Report, 1915, Vice-President, Seventh Congressional District.

P. H. PETERSON, ATWATER, MINN.

From the answers received on blanks sent out I find there was a fair crop of apples raised throughout this district, with the trees in good condition for winter.  Wood is well ripened up, leaves all shed and plenty of moisture in the soil.